If there is a job to be done at the Alexandra Rugby Club, chances are Trevor Washington will be there somewhere.
Washington (55) won the Otago Rugby volunteer of the year award during the weekend, a well deserved award for a man who has been involved in the club for decades.
It was a complete surprise for Washington, a life member, and one who has done everything from playing for the club for countless years to mucking out the changing rooms.
''It is just something I have always done. I've always loved the sport and always loved the club. It's been my home away from home for so long,'' he said.
Washington first played for the club as a young man in 1978 and finally finished playing in 2009, when he was 49.
He played more than 500 games for the club, as a prop, lock or No 8.
In that time Alexandra had a fair measure of success and at one stage had a premier side, a senior side and two under-20 teams.
But numbers have slowly dropped away and the club now has just the one team in the premier grade, although it has an active junior club, in which Washington is heavily involved. Made a life member in 2002, Washington is still a very active part of the club.
He was the manager of the senior Alexandra side this year, helping mentor new coaches.
The club, in its 125th year, won the Central Otago competition.
He is also the club captain, responsible for the operations of the club and is on the committee.
Washington has been on the Otago Country rugby board for the past three years.
He is also the club's delegate on the Central Otago rugby council of clubs.
This year, the club's cleaner was away for a couple of months so Washington did not mind lending a hand to get the rooms and changing sheds in good shape.
He was heavily involved in the club's 125th jubilee celebrations this year which attracted more than 300 former and current members.
Washington paid tribute to his family and how they accepted his dedication to the sport.
It was obviously in the blood - his father, Les, was made a life member of the Alexandra club in 1975, and also the Vincent sub-union a few years later, while his grandfather, Fred, had been a life member of the Clutha Rugby Football Club.
Washington accepted the honour at an Otago rugby awards function on Saturday night and then returned to Alexandra after it ended.
''I wanted to watch the [World Cup] final with my mates. We watched it all together four years ago and wanted to come back and watch it again with them.''
• Otago outside back Matt Faddes completed an outstanding year for the blue and golds, winning the major awards at a prizegiving for the Otago team during the weekend.
Faddes, who turns 24 later this week, won the fans' player of the year award and was also voted player of the year, winning the David Latta Trophy.
The trophy is voted on by players on a points system for every game.
Faddes had been in and out of the Otago side in past years but had a season to remember in 2015, and picked up a contract with the Highlanders.
Otago qualified third in the championship section of the ITM Cup before losing to Wellington in the semifinal.
Hooker and captain Liam Coltman was named forward of the year, while second five-eighth Tei Walden was named back of the year.
Both have been selected for the Highlanders next year.
Lock Blair Tweed was named rookie of the year.
